Systems and methods for use of a contactless payment terminal device

Abstract

Disclosed embodiments may include a system for improving usability of a contactless payment terminal device. The system may detect a presence of a contactless transaction card. Responsive to determining that the contactless transaction card is not positioned at a desired location relative to a location of a contactless transaction card reader, the system may output a dynamic proximity guide indication. The dynamic proximity guide indication may be configured to provide a dynamically changing indication of how close the contactless transaction card is to being positioned at the desired location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for improving usability of a contactless payment terminal device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory in communication with the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the system to:
 detect a presence of a contactless transaction card; and 
 responsive to determining that the contactless transaction card is not positioned at a desired location relative to a location of a contactless transaction card reader, output a dynamic proximity guide indication, 
 wherein the dynamic proximity guide indication is configured to provide a dynamically changing indication of how close the contactless transaction card is to being positioned at the desired location. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the presence of a contactless transaction card comprises detecting a wireless signal emitted by the contactless transaction card. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contactless transaction card comprises one of:
 a transaction card comprising a magnetic strip, an RFID tag or other wireless signal transmitting components; or   a mobile device comprising a wireless transceiver.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contactless payment terminal device comprises one or more light emitting diodes and the dynamic proximity guide indication comprises a dynamically changing appearance of the one or more light emitting diodes based on a relative position of the contactless transaction card to the contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contactless payment terminal device comprises a display screen and the dynamic proximity guide indication comprises one or more colors, images and designs displayed by the display screen that dynamically change based on a relative position of the contactless transaction card to the contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the contactless payment terminal device comprises an audio output device and the dynamic proximity guide indication comprises an auditory signal output by the audio output device that dynamically changes based on a relative position of the contactless transaction card to the contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the dynamic proximity guide indication comprises one or more of:
 a change in visual appearance of one or more light emitting diodes;   a change in visual appearance of a display screen;   a change in characteristic of an auditory signal output;   a change in pitch of an auditory; and   a change in a directional display.   
     
     
         8 . A system for improving usability of a contactless payment terminal device comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory in communication with the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the system to:
 detect a presence of a contactless transaction card; 
 determine a location of the contactless transaction card relative to a contactless transaction card reader; and 
 responsive to determining that the contactless transaction card is not within a predetermined threshold distance from the contactless transaction card reader, output a proximity guide indication, 
 wherein the proximity guide indication is configured to provide an indication of a direction that the contactless transaction card should be moved in order to be positioned within the predetermined threshold distance from the contactless transaction card reader. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the proximity guide indication comprises one or more of:
 a signal to change an appearance of one or more light emitting diodes associated with the contactless payment terminal device;   a signal to change a visual appearance of a display screen of a device; and   an auditory signal output by a device.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein determining the location of the contactless transaction card relative to the contactless transaction card reader comprises determining a detected signal strength of a wireless signal output by the contactless transaction card. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein detecting the presence of a contactless transaction card comprises:
 obtaining, via an imaging device, one or more images of the contactless transaction card, wherein the imaging device is configured to observe an area proximate to the contactless transaction card reader; and   determining, based on image recognition techniques, that the contactless transaction card is present in the one or more images obtained by the imaging device.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein determining the location of the contactless transaction card relative to the contactless transaction card reader comprises determining an approximate distance between the contactless transaction card and the contactless transaction card reader based on the one or more images obtained by the imaging device. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the predetermined threshold distance comprises a threshold distance at which the contactless transaction card reader can adequately obtain payment information from the contactless transaction card to complete a transaction. 
     
     
         14 . A system for improving usability of a contactless payment terminal device, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory in communication with the one or more processors and storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, are configured to cause the system to:
 detect that a contactless transaction card is proximate to a contactless transaction card reader; and 
 responsive to determining that the contactless transaction card is not positioned at a desired location relative to a location of a contactless transaction card reader, output a proximity guide indication, 
 wherein the proximity guide indication is configured to provide a cardholder of the contactless transaction card an indication of where to position the contactless transaction card in relation to a position of the contactless transaction card reader to achieve adequate communication with the contactless payment terminal device. 
   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein determining that the contactless transaction card is proximate to the contactless transaction card reader comprises detecting a wireless signal output by the contactless transaction card. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein determining that the contactless transaction card is not positioned at a desired location relative to the location of a contactless transaction card reader comprises determining that the contactless transaction card is not positioned within a predetermined threshold distance from the contactless transaction card reader. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein outputting the proximity guide indication comprises changing a visual appearance of one or more light emitting diodes associated with the contactless payment terminal device. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein outputting the proximity guide indication comprises changing one or more of a frequency, pitch or other characteristic of an auditory signal output by an audio device associated with the contactless payment terminal device. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein outputting the proximity guide indication comprises causing a display screen associated with one or more of the contactless payment terminal device and a user device to display a directional indication. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising responsive to determining that the contactless transaction card is positioned at the desired location relative to the location of the contactless transaction card reader, output an indication of a successful placement of the contactless transaction card.